Job description
Job Title: Social Work Consultant – Direct Payments
Location: Hybrid – Howden House / Home Working
Are you passionate about enabling people to live good lives?
Do you have a strong understanding of Direct Payments and a desire to lead innovative, person-centred practice? If so, we want to hear from you
We are seeking an experienced qualified Social Worker to join our Direct Payments Service as a Social Work Consultant. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Direct Payments and Personal Budgets through creative, flexible and values-driven approaches.
About the Role
Through the delivery of our Personalisation and Direct Payments Strategy, we're transforming how Direct Payments are offered and used. Our ambition is to make Direct Payments a clear and accessible first choice for everyone using social care.
You will:
* Lead practice development projects, including training delivery and policy guidance.
* Lead and manage the Direct Payment Support Service team.
* Provide expert advice and resolution on complex Direct Payment issues across Adults, Children's and Health services.
* Support monitoring and review of Direct Payments, including safeguarding responsibilities.
* Collaborate with partner agencies and people who use Direct Payments to co-produce solutions.
Key Responsibilities
* Promote and increase the uptake of Direct Payments by equipping and supporting social work teams with the knowledge and confidence they need.
* Deliver mandatory training and awareness sessions, develop tools and resources for social work teams.
* Support practitioners to set up Direct Payments efficiently and legally.
* Resolve complex queries with creativity and compliance.
* Promote strengths-based, personalised practice aligned with the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Children and Families Act.
* Oversee team management, performance and future development of the in-house Direct Payment Support Service.
What We're Looking For
* An experienced Social Worker who is passionate and knowledgeable about Direct Payments.
* A confident communicator and collaborator across services and agencies.
* A strategic thinker with a passion for improving outcomes and delivering value for money.
* Someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is committed to continuous improvement.
Why Join Us?
This is a pivotal role in embedding high-quality, personalised social work practice. You'll be at the forefront of innovation, helping to shape a service that truly empowers people and supports our workforce.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve.
We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly. It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.
Under the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.
Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.
Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more here New job evaluation process to be introduced at Sheffield City Council | Sheffield City Council
Job details
Job reference
REQ003757
Date posted
25/09/2025
Application closing date
12/10/2025
Location
Sheffield
Salary
Grade 9 £47,181 to £51,356
Package
Permanent
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Blank
Job category/type
Adult Social Care